May Ten Broeck, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a printed card from the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter, made to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were a product of their time, reflecting an era where celebrity culture began to intertwine with commercial interests, especially in rapidly industrializing societies. Here, we see May Ten Broeck, an actress, presented within a decorative frame. These cards were aimed at male consumers, and they offer a glimpse into the representation of women in the late 19th century. Though seemingly a celebration of actresses, these cards often reinforced traditional gender roles, reducing women to objects of beauty and admiration within the confines of the male gaze. Consider this image not just as a portrait, but as a cultural artifact, revealing the complex ways in which identity, gender, and commerce intersected during this period. It invites us to reflect on how far we've come, and how some patterns of representation persist in contemporary society.